Hosiery finishing apparatus



July 21,1931. T. w. PROSSER ETAL HOSIERY FINISHING APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Shet 1 gwwwtoz 7770/7701 14 Prone/a I M I a I I I a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7770/7745 Prosser fi/7 hf Wd/fleexg July 21, 1931. T. w. PROSSER ET AL I HOSIERY FINISHING APPARATUS Filed July 11:, 1928 Patented July 21, 1931 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS W. PROSSER AND JOHN H. WAH-LBECK, KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO PARAMOUNT TEXTILE MACHINERY CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS- nosIEnY FINISHING APPARATUS Application filed July 11,

This invention primarily relates to hosiery finishing apparatus; it involves a system for circulating a heating agentthrough one or more forming instrumentalities or so-called drying andshaping forms; and it'especially contemplates means for swiveling each of the forms on its respective support to facilitate the boarding operation, inspection by the operator, etc.

The present-da practice of finishing hosiery-drying, s aplng, and creasing it involves quite generally the employment of a series of forms or boards provided with crease-producing edges and adapted to be interiorly heated, and on which the hosiery is boarded (as it-is usually called), the

forms usually being stationarily mounted in line on a support, such as a table in order that the articles of hosiery may be succes sively placed on the forms by the operator and then, when finished, stripped therefrom.

Various heating media are employed for heating the forms to enable them to function as finishing instrumentalities. -The present concept especially contemplates the use of a heating medium, such as hot water, steam, or other fluid, though it is within the principles of our concept that electricity may similarly be used for the purpose.

We have discovered, and our invention is predicated'upon the discovery, that it is, at times, advantageous to change the position (momentarily! say) of the forms so that their rear surfaces- -those which normally 'face away from the operator or boarded may be swung to the front or, if need be, to

any selected angle. To' thatend, we have provided a novel type of swiveling-device to be interposed between a form and the supporting structure therefor; this device including simple means for retaining the form r in any of a plurality of possible positions normal and abnormal-and also with means for facilitating the turning of the form on its respective swivel; this bein g accomplished readily and conveniently without disturbing or otherwise interfering with the supply .of the heating medium to the form or its withdraival therefrom, and without danger of leakage of the heating medium. We have,

1928. Serial No. 291,962.

- In order that our inventive-conceit may ave ilbe more readily comprehended, we lustrated the same in the accompanying drawings; but it is to be understood that in this disclosure, these drawings are tol-'be regarded as merely illustrative, that'theinvention is susceptible of other embodiments and utilizations, and that even the particu-v I lar embodiment herein revealed is capable of a wide range of variation and modification without departing from the underlying principles of the invention or sacrificing any of its salient features.

. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 isa fragmentary view, in perspective, of the apparatus constructed in accordance with our inventive-concept, and showthe front row, being illustrated in normal,

boarding position; others at different angular positions; and another in a position reversed to that which it normally occupies;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical cross-section, on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View; in sectional elevation and on an enlarged scale, of the structure-with one form, this being shown partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a view in form mounting; and

Fi 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, of a modi cation, and wherein hot water or the like is employed instead of steam.

: Referring to these drawings, the referencecharacter 1 designates a finishing instrumen-- tality of the general type shown and described in United States patents of George Collis No. 1,114,966, dated October 27, 191 and No. 1,204,945, dated November 14, 191 6; and in United States patents of Walter D. Bl tz, No. 1,207,494 and No. 1,207,496, dated December 5, 1916.

Preferably and as shown, these forms are used in one or more series, and itis to be understood that our invention is applicable cross-section of the 55 4 ment so that the major portion thereof exshown, the troughs are of approximately the same length as the supporting member. The latter, in conjunction with the cross-pieces,

supporting member, etc., constitute what may herein be referred to for identification purposes as a table. Mounted to travel on the upper edges of the side-walls of each trough is a rolling shelf 7 Mounted in spaced-apart relation on the central member 3 is a series of swivel devices, marked generally 8, each of these comprising a tubular bearing-element 9 welded or otherwise secured to the central member 3, and occupying a position slightly inclined to the vertical, as shown in Fig. 2, for a purpose to be described. The upper end of the bearing-element 9 is provided with an incut 10, preferably of ll-shape formation, for a pur pose presently to be explained.

Rotatably mounted within the bearingmember 9 is a pivot-post ll of lengthwise dimensions preferably greater than that ofthe member 9, and carrying at its upper end a cross-pin 12 adapted to ride upon the upper edge of the member and, also, periodically to seat in the V-shaped incut 10. lhe post carries, at its lower end, a flanged bolt 13.

Between the flange thereon and the lower end. of the bearing-member 9 is interposed a spring 14, the function of which is to cause the cross-pin 121:0 bear, with a certain degree ofpressure, on the upper end of the bearingmember and, thus, to insure the cross-pin seating in the incut'and be retained therein so as to hold parts associated with the swivel device in operating position.

Rigidly secured to the upper end of the pivot-post 11 is a form-attaching element 15, the point of securement of the post to the element being adjacent one end of the eletends beyond the post.- As shown in Fig. 4, the post is secured to the element 15 at a slight angle, that is, at an angle to the vertical, so as to effect angulating of the position of the form, as will be explained farther on. Preferably and as shown, the attachingelement 15 is semi-circular in cross-section to present an upper curved surface 16, and to. this a correspondingly formed base-porneiaeea preferably and as shown, is provided with a longitudinal partition 24 which divides the interior of the form into an inlet-channel 25- and a drains-channel 26. The base 17 of the form has two vertical ports 27 and 28, these being in communication at their lower end through an aperture 2? for the outflow of condensate that may accumulate around the nipple 23. The nipple 23 extends into the port 27 and communicates with the channel 25. The channel 26 is, by means of the port 28 inthe base, in fluid communication with the upper end of the nipple 22.

Preferably'and as shown, flexible pipes or tubing 29 and 30, respectively, are attached at one end to the nipples 21 and 22, respectively, and at the opposite end to supply and drains .pipes not herein shown but which may be of the general construction and perform in the manner disclosed in United States Letters Patent 1,755,334, granted to Thomas W. Prosser, April 22, 1930, these various components constituting a circulatory system for the handling of the heating-fluid, condensate therefrom, etc.

The structure herein disclosed lends itself quite readily to the handling of either hot water or steam; in fact, any suitable fluid; or even hot air. Where it is utilized in connection with hot water or the like, the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is preferably though not necessarily used: In this instance, a nipple 31 (correspondingto the nipple 23 in Fig. 3) is disposed inthe right-hand channel 32 of the form and a pipe or elongated tube 33 upstands therefrom and functions in the manner explained in the pending application of Joseph G. Prosser, filed February 9, 1926, Serial No. 87,164. The form-attaching element 15, in this embodiment, also has pendent nipples 34 and 35, to which are attached pipes corresponding with or similar to the flexible tubes 29 and 30, shown in Fig. 3.

0peration.lnasmuch as the operation of the structure thus far described will be practically self-evident, it is not deemed necessary to detail the same to any extent: Suffice it to say, therefore, that, assuming that any the troughs 7and it be desired to swing that form into a different position, either an gular to the supporting'member and the troughs; or so that the toe-portion of the form will extend toward the right rather than toward the left, the operator, grasping the handle 20, swings the attaching-element 15 on its pivotconstituted by the elements 9 and 11and in so doing the cross-pin 12 rides out'of the incut or seat 10 and onto the upper edge of the tubular member 9, it being caused to bear hard against the same by reason of the pressure exerted thereon through the spring 14. This will suflice to hold the form in its shifted, angular position. If,

for any reason, it be desired to swing the form farther around, this may be done,.

whereupon the cross-pin 12 will again seat in the incut 10; but, then, the toe-portion of the form will extend toward the right.

In the meantime, and during this 0 eration,b reason of the flexibility of the tu ings 29 an 30, the supply of. the heating fluid to and the removal thereof and the draining of condensate from, the forms will not be dis turbed or at all interfered with.

This construction presents several advantages over known existing structures of more or less analogous type, wherein a ground or packed joint is employed. The difliculty with a packed joint, as has been determined in practical experience, is that if the packing is made sufiiciently tight to" prevent leakage at the joint, it imposes considerable friction on the revolving member of a swivel.

On the other hand, if a ground joint isemelement 15, the axis of the device is ofl'set to, and eccentric from the longitudinal axis of the form itself. By reason of this arrangement, a better balance is afforded to the form, additional leverage is obtained that makes for easier turning of the form on the swivel device, and the supply of the heating fluid to and its withdrawal from the channels in the form will be more direct, with consequent improvement in the heating of the form by the fluid. Moreover, this arrangement per-4 mits the forms to be swung over the roximate trough, the rolling shelf on which is preferably in a plane below that of the lower edge of the attaching-element, so that the .in connection within an angle less arrangement, the tables can be built narrower than heretofore, with a considerable saving in floor space, and this arrangement also materially shortens the reach of the operator in putting the stocking on the form and stripping'it therefrom.- v

The cross-pin 12 on the post 11 has two seating positions in the incut 10 and, thus, two stops for the swivel are rovided; that is tosay, when the pin occupies the position shown in connection with the form at the lefthand end, in Fig. 1, this form is held with of boarding. Then, if the form is swung 180 degrees from thatposition, the gin will a ain seat in the incut and the form e firmly eld while being inspected and/or sponged on its side which normallyfaces away from the operator.

In addition, the forms may be rotated, say,

to 180 and yet the roximate forms willbe clear from each ot er. This is-due to the angular relation which the post 11 bears to the form-attaching element 15 as shownin Fig. 4, and described above, and by reason of which .the form is, when turned on the pivot, shifted out of a vertical position to one which is slightly angular thereto, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. It is not infrequently of advantage to turn the forms to approxiconsiderable rigidity during the operations mately 180 so as to present to the view of the boarder the entire surface thereof which normally faces away from her, rather than at an angle substantially less than 180 which gives to the boarder a perspective, and

sometimes unsatisfactory, view; the 180 polight does not fall 'squarel on the surface which she mustinspect. e 180 position: ing of the 'form also facilitates the practice of sponging the fabric where this is done,

ained hosiery, for instance. If two proximate forms were to be swung into enga ment on their respective swivel devices, t ere'would be a resulting quite noticeab e because, then, the operadamage to the fabric and, articu1arly,.where it is of the so-called chi on or sheer type. This arrandgement also permitsthe forms to be mounte closer together, in cons uence of which the le h of the table maybe materially redu If theconstruction were otherwise the forms could only 'be' turned at than 180, or,- if this full tuming were essential, it would be necessary to make the table much longer, and that would obviously require considerably more floor space. a

The provision of the handle 20 on the attaching-element 15, as already stated, facilitates the turning of the form to any selected angle, In 'additio'n, it' obviates the necessity for the operator grasping any'portion of the form itself and, particularly, where it is ing on the form, and if this is done after the fabric is set, the result is poor boardmgl.

.covered by the stocking. Where an o erator has to grasp the stocking-covered orm, there is a tendency to disarrange the stock Other advantages and desirable features of this construction will be manifest and, par-v ticularly, to those who have had experience in operating hosiery-finishing forms which involve a difi'erentprinciple of swivelm the vertical, a swivel-postrotatable in the bearing-member, aform-attac'hin elent on eachpost, the member and post sing angular to each other, and a series of finishing forms on the attaching elements, the rotative movement of the forms resulting in these being moved from a normal position substantially vertical'to an ofi-normal position angular to the vertical, whereby proxate forms are, at their upper extremities, spaced from each other. v

he hosiery in structure including a supports. seriesot aring elements secured to said support,a series of fo-attaching elements juxtad to said support and each provided near one end with a pivot post rotatably mounted in one of said bring eleon each of said o-attac g inents, and a hosiery drying term mounted elements with the longitud axis of the to odset from and eccentric to its respective pivot post, whereb to vs the angular relation o ad+ "scent orms w en one of them, is its pivot ost.

3. A orm-supporting js tructure includin in combinative association, a swingab e form-attaching-element, a pivot-device therefor, means for maintainin the element in any of a lurality of adjustale positions, juxtaposed inlet and drains-nipples dependmg from the element, and elon ated flexible conduits connected to the nipp es.

a 4. A form-supporting structure including, 1n comhinative association, a swingable form- 'attaching-element. a pivot-device therefor means for maintaining the element in any 0 a plurality of adjustable positions, juxtaposed mlet and ins-nipples depending pivot p, an a hosiery ved on said form-attaching I element and in misses from the "element, elon ted flexible conduits connected to the nipp es, and a tubular instrumentality upstanding from the element andin fluid communication with one of the nipples. v

5. A swiveled form-supporting structure includin in combinative association, a swmgabe form-attaching-element a pivottherefor comprising a post'depend ng therefrom, a, post-encompassing member ,for

mounting the post, coacting means on the post and member for retaining the swingable element in any of a plurality of adjustable ositions and including an mstrumentality interposed between the member and post for tensionin said post and member, and an elongate support-to which the encompassing member is connected.

6. A hosieryfinishing structure including I a support,.a bearing element secured to said support, a form-attaching element juxtaposed to said support and provided near one end with a pivot post seating in said bear-- ing element, an, incut in said bearin'gelement,

a in on said pivot post, and means urging said pin into saidincut. c 7. A hosiery finishing structure includin a support, a hearing eleent secured to sai support, a io'ettac mg element juxtaposed to said support d provided near one end with a pivot post seating in said bearing element, notes and drain nipples on said form-attachin element to one side of said form mountfluid counication with said nipples.

in testimony whereof we r our signarnos w. rnossrn. JG H, BECK.

' tures. 

